NC State trustees approve Justin Gainey’s contract as new men’s basketball coach
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- University Committee held emergency session and unanimously approved Gainey’s contract.
- Contract reportedly five years; Gainey to be introduced at private press conference.
- Gainey, former Tennessee associate head coach and Wolfpack alumnus, replaces Will Wade.
N.C. State officially has its new men’s basketball coach.
The university’s Board of Trustees University Affairs Committee held an emergency meeting Tuesday afternoon via Zoom to approve Justin Gainey’s contract.
The committee unanimously approved Gainey’s employment after spending roughly 40 minutes in a closed session. N.C. State athletics released an official announcement an hour after the board’s approval.
“I am honored to announce Justin Gainey as our new head coach for the NC State men’s basketball program,” N.C. State athletic director Boo Corrigan said in a statement. “Not only are we welcoming back one of our own, but we are welcoming a tough, tenacious and experienced coach who I am confident is the right fit for our program and will continue to position the Pack for success on the national stage. Justin understands what this program means because he has lived and breathed it, and I am very excited that he is our basketball coach.”
“Very excited for our new basketball coach,” committee chair Ghazale Johnston said after the vote.
Gainey’s contract is for five years, but no additional details have been released. He previously served as the Tennessee associate head coach and replaces Will Wade.
The committee’s approval and department announcement comes a day and a half since news broke of his expected hire. Gainey will be formally introduced during a private press conference on Wednesday afternoon at Lenovo Center. Fans can watch the press conference on GoPack.com or ACC Network Extra.
“I’m humbled and honored to be the head coach of the N.C. State men’s basketball program,” Gainey said in a statement. “This university helped build me as a player and as a person. To now lead it as head coach is truly a full-circle moment. There’s a responsibility that comes with leading your alma mater, and I embrace it fully. We’re going to honor our tradition, represent this university the right way, and build a program our Wolfpack family can be proud of. This place means everything to me. I wore the jersey with pride, and now I’ll lead this program with that same passion, toughness and commitment to winning that defines the Wolfpack.”
Corrigan said last Thursday the university sought someone who has succeeded in the current model of college basketball and believed in a long-term tenure.
“We need to make sure that we have a person that’s committed to this university,” Corrigan said, “that wants to be at this university, that shares our values of trust and accountability, that will lead this program.”
Chancellor Kevin Howell’s statement reflects a belief that Gainey possesses those values and will guide the program with “integrity, humility and a relentless pursuit of excellence.”
Gainey interviewed for the job last season, prior to Wade’s selection. He met with N.C. State officials on Saturday in Chicago, prior to Tennessee’s Elite Eight matchup with Michigan, where they met for roughly three hours.
He received public approval from fans and former players, who credited his love for the university and success at Tennessee. Vols head coach Rick Barnes hired Gainey as an assistant in 2021 and promoted him to second-in-command prior to the 2022-23 season, drastically improving the team’s defense over the past five years.
Gainey played at N.C. State from 1996-2000 under Herb Sendek, playing in 138 games and starting in 103. He finished his career with 344 assists, ranking No. 15 in program history.
Following his playing career, Gainey held positions at multiple programs, including N.C. State. He worked on former coach Sidney Lowe’s Wolfpack staff as an administrative coordinator and director of operations.
Following Wade’s abrupt departure, N.C. State quickly honed in on three candidates: Saint Louis head coach Josh Schertz, Furman head coach Bob Richey and Gainey. Schertz and Richey withdrew their candidacy for the job on Sunday.
This story was originally published March 31, 2026 at 4:24 PM.
